Kamaris: Churches, Chapels and Archaeological Traces

The village is home to Surb Hovhannes Church, dating from 1832. It has a bell tower dating from the 19th century. Several khachkars from the 17th century, including inscribed examples, are set into the church. On the edge of the village lies the ruin of the Tukh Manuk Chapel. A khachkar from the 16th to 17th century is located there. The church, bell tower, embedded khachkars and chapel ruin thus form a historically significant heritage site with distinct spatial elements.

On the southwestern side of Kamaris are a cemetery dating from the 12th to the 20th century, Surb Astvatsatsin Chapel from 1258, several khachkars from the 10th to the 17th century, and the Kamarakuyt Chapel from the 19th century. The cemetery’s long period of use extends across several centuries. The chapels and khachkars complement this area with religious buildings and stone evidence from different periods.

Several archaeological sites outside the village are also associated with Kamaris. The medieval Kuze Fortress lies about 6 km to the southeast. Southwest of the village, at the site of Kyalafa, there is a fortress with a burial ground dating from the 3rd to the 1st millennium BC. A settlement from the 3rd to the 2nd is also located on the southern side of Kamaris. The three sites differ in their locations and in their archaeological forms: fortress, burial ground and settlement.

For chronological classification, broad periods are given for the archaeological sites: the burial ground and fortress of Kyalafa date from the 3rd to the 1st BC, while the settlement dates from the 3rd to the 2nd. Kuze, by contrast, represents a medieval fortress. For historical sites and chapels, current opening hours or visitor information can be checked before travelling if a visit is planned.

The nearby area around Kamaris includes Andzav, Arts’akhyan Paterazmum Zohvats Azatamartikneri, Hovhannes Surb, Chgnavori and Yerkrord Ashkharhamartum Zohvatsneri. Each of these place references is listed as a separate location in the vicinity of the village. This nearby area therefore includes both short place names such as Andzav and Chgnavori and longer names such as Arts’akhyan Paterazmum Zohvats Azatamartikneri and Yerkrord Ashkharhamartum Zohvatsneri.

The surrounding area of Kamaris includes Razvaliny Mangyuz, Ogyats’ Dzori and Arji Bun. These three place references are not part of the nearby area but are classified as the surrounding area. This spatial classification thus distinguishes the five locations in the nearby area from the three additional place references in the surrounding area.

Other places: Karashamb, Abowjan, Balahovit, Arinj, Dzoraghbyur, Getamej, Garni, Arzni

For the higher-level travel overview: Kotajk.